“I Am An Indian Of All Ages”: Shah Rukh Khan As He Receives News18 Indian Of The Year Award
In a viral acceptance speech at the News18 Indian of the Year Awards ceremony, Shah Rukh Khan, the charismatic Bollywood superstar who was voted to become the awardee after delivering three back to back box office hits with Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki in a unforgettable return to silver screen after a hiatus of four years, expressed gratitude and resilience as he received the prestigious accolade. The actor, known for his wit and charm, delivered a speech that resonated with hope and determination.
Addressing the audience, Shah Rukh Khan declared, “I don”t just feel like Indian of the year, I am an Indian of all the ages gone by. I will be the Indian of all the years to come. I am an Indian of all ages.” With these words, he set the tone for a speech that would touch upon both personal and professional aspects of his life.
The celebrated actor candidly acknowledged the challenges he faced in the last four to five years, a period marked by professional setbacks and personal trials, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He shared, “Most of my films flopped, a lot of specialists and analysts started writing my death-knell, some idiots did the same, which actually is the same thing, analysts and idiots. Not something that I really bother about.”
Despite the hardships, Shah Rukh Khan urged a philosophy of quiet perseverance and hard work with dignity. He emphasized the importance of remaining hopeful, happy, and honest in one”s storytelling, especially during life”s unexpected twists. Drawing parallels between life and movies, he quoted, “In life, as in movies, in the end, everything gets better. And if it doesn”t go well, it”s not the end.”
Amidst the challenges, Khan expressed his commitment to being an eternal optimist and highlighted his role as a storyteller. He affirmed, “When I get an award like this one, I am reminded that I should remain the eternal optimist and hang on to the self-belief that I am the fastest Lego maker in the world.” The mention of Lego maker was a reference to an incident happened with him and his 10 year-old son AbRam.
In a touching gesture, the actor shared his decision to dedicate every award he receives to one of his children, bringing cheer to their lives. Acknowledging the support of his family, he stated, “So I am taking this award back home for them. It is not a comeback; it is actually the reiteration of the fact that I belong and should continue to act.”
